Well prepared for the next step

Penn student heading to Duke for college

Penn student heading to Duke for college

June 28, 2007

GRANGER -- Deborah Wei is grateful she's had a normal childhood in Granger. Her father is a professor of business management at the University of Notre Dame. She's lived in a subdivision in Granger with her parents, a younger brother and a younger sister. She's played the piano since she was 5 years old, and she's won awards. She's also enjoyed playing the violin because she was able to play in school orchestras and the Youth Symphony. "This is a good place to grow up," she said. "I've liked living in a subdivision, building treehouses and things like that. "But as you get older, you want to try to do new things." So when it came time to apply for college, she looked East. She'll be going to Duke, to major in public policy studies, with an emphasis on global health. She was accepted at other colleges, including Notre Dame. For many students, Notre Dame would be the obvious choice, especially because she would get the faculty family discount. But frankly, she feels like it's time to be a little more independent. "There's the factor of it being too close," she said. She feels this community has prepared her well for her next step. One thing she likes about Penn High School is that she's been able to work on a variety of skills. For one, she tried out for the cross-country team as a freshman. "Before high school, I didn't have sports that I liked. I was drawn to learn how runners are motivated, and I learned how to work hard. "Being able to work my way up to varsity is one of my big achievements here." She's also competed on academic squads, including the English team in the Academic Super Bowl. And she's been a state finalist and national qualifier in debate. It's that experience in debate that has led her to apply to some of the most prestigious universities in the nation. "That's where I got my interest in international relations," she said. As a student and a fan of the arts, she appreciates the variety she can find here. "We've gone to see the South Bend Symphony a lot," she said. "This is a good place to begin appreciating music." Ultimately, she may attend law school and work elsewhere. But she knows she's had a good start growing up here. "I definitely think that what I learned at Penn and in South Bend has given me the confidence to pursue my goals, wherever they take me."